Courvoisier XO Extra Old Cognac

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Courvoisier XO blends mature wine spirits into a Cognac with a pronounced fruit character and floral accents. Its aromatic range includes figs, raisins, plums and candied orange, alongside iris flowers and sweet notes of vanilla, caramel and crème brûlée.

Cask preparation plays an important part in this profile. Carefully toasting the oak casks by hand creates vanilla and caramel notes that develop into impressions of crème brûlée during maturation. Mature spirits from Borderies contribute the floral iris note, while candied orange is associated with the spirits from Grande Champagne and their maturation in oak casks. The Cognac is bottled at 40% in a 0.7-litre bottle and supplied in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, crème brûlée and candied orange meet the scent of wildflowers. A delicate iris flower note completes the bouquet.
• Palate: The Cognac feels velvety on the palate. Ripe figs and dried fruit combine with a hint of cinnamon, toasted almonds and vanilla. Nuances of crème brûlée, candied orange and iris flowers round out the flavour.
• Finish: The long finish reveals crème brûlée and floral notes. Warmth, honey sweetness and spicy impressions linger.

Distillery/Bottler:

Courvoisier's history began with the wine and spirits business of Emmanuel Courvoisier and Louis Gallois near Paris. Their sons, Félix Courvoisier and Jules Gallois, established a house specialising in Cognac in Jarnac in 1828, bringing the company directly into the region where its spirits originated. Under later owners, the Curlier brothers, Courvoisier was named an official supplier to the imperial household of Napoléon III in 1869.

Courvoisier works mainly with wine spirits from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fins Bois. The house's methods include double distillation in small stills with a capacity of 25 hectolitres and the selection of the heart cut for maturation. French oak is selected for the casks and dried naturally before being worked. The selection of the spirits, their cask maturation and subsequent blending together determine the style of the Cognacs.

Facts: